José Hernández (baseball)
Encyclopedia
José Antonio Hernández Figueroa (born July 14, 1969 in Vega Alta
, Puerto Rico
) nicknamed, "The Strikeout King" is a former Major League Baseball
infielder
.
In a 15-season career, Hernández had a .254 batting average
with 159 home run
s and 563 RBI
in 1408 games
. He was an 2002 All-Star Game reserve, and a member of the 1999 National League
Champion Atlanta Braves
. He is the cousin of Luis Figueroa
.
Primarily a shortstop
, Hernández played every position except pitcher
. His most productive season came in with Milwaukee, when he posted career highs in home runs (24), RBI (77), hits
(151), doubles
(26) and games (152). Despite his .249 average, he posted a .356 on base percentage
.
In , Hernandez struck out 188 times, one shy of the MLB record. Then-Brewers manager Jerry Royster
kept him out of the lineup in four of the last five games of the season so he would not break the dubious record. He led the majors in highest strikeout percentage (35.8%).
In 2002, Hernández hit 24 home runs with 73 RBI and a career-high .288 average. He spent the entire 2004 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers
in a utility role, hitting .289 (61-211) with 12 doubles, one triple
, 13 home runs and 29 RBI in 95 games for the National League West
champions. Hernández recorded 26 extra base hit
s and a .540 slugging percentage in just 211 at bat
s. Only Anaheim
's Troy Glaus
(207 AB, 18 HR) hit more home runs in the majors in 2004 among players with 215 or fewer at bats.
Hernández signed on with the Cleveland Indians
for the to begin his second tenure with the team. He played in 84 games and hit .231 with six home runs and 31 runs batted.
Before the season, Hernández signed a minor league contract with the Pirates that included an invitation to spring training
, and an opportunity to compete for a spot on the team. After playing only 67 games for Pittsburgh, the Phillies purchased his contract from the Pirates on August 22, 2006. He became a free agent after the season.
Hernández returned to the Pirates organization on January 3, . Unconditionally released on March 30, he signed with the Indianapolis Indians
. In 99 games, he hit .242 with 13 home runs and 56 RBI.
Hernández set a Puerto Rican Winter League
record with 20 home runs for Mayagüez
during the - season.
Vega Alta, Puerto Rico
Vega Alta is a municipality of Puerto Rico. Vega Alta is located on the northern coast of the island, north of Morovis and Corozal; east of Vega Baja; and west of Dorado with an area of . Vega Alta is spread over seven wards and Vega Alta Pueblo...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
) nicknamed, "The Strikeout King" is a former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
.
In a 15-season career, Hernández had a .254 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
with 159 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 563 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 1408 games
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
. He was an 2002 All-Star Game reserve, and a member of the 1999 National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
Champion Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. He is the cousin of Luis Figueroa
Luis Figueroa
Luis R. Figueroa is a Major League Baseball infielder who is presently in the minor league system of the New York Mets...
.
Primarily a shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
, Hernández played every position except pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. His most productive season came in with Milwaukee, when he posted career highs in home runs (24), RBI (77), hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
(151), doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(26) and games (152). Despite his .249 average, he posted a .356 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
.
In , Hernandez struck out 188 times, one shy of the MLB record. Then-Brewers manager Jerry Royster
Jerry Royster
Jeron Kennis Royster was a third baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, Chicago White Sox, and the New York Yankees, as well as a former manager of the Milwaukee Brewers and of the Lotte Giants in the Korea Baseball Organization.-Career:He was signed by the Dodgers...
kept him out of the lineup in four of the last five games of the season so he would not break the dubious record. He led the majors in highest strikeout percentage (35.8%).
In 2002, Hernández hit 24 home runs with 73 RBI and a career-high .288 average. He spent the entire 2004 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in a utility role, hitting .289 (61-211) with 12 doubles, one triple
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 13 home runs and 29 RBI in 95 games for the National League West
National League West
The National League Western Division, or NL West, is one of the three divisions of Major League Baseball's National League. It was created in 1969 when the previously undivided National League expanded its membership to twelve teams, positioning half of them in an Eastern division and the other...
champions. Hernández recorded 26 extra base hit
Extra base hit
In baseball, an extra base hit , also known as a long hit, is any base hit on which the batter is able to advance past first base without the benefit of a fielder either committing an error or opting to make a throw to retire another base runner...
s and a .540 slugging percentage in just 211 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s. Only Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
's Troy Glaus
Troy Glaus
Troy Edward Glaus is a Major League Baseball first baseman and third baseman who is currently a free agent. Previously, Glaus played with the Anaheim Angels , Arizona Diamondbacks , Toronto Blue Jays , St. Louis Cardinals , and the Atlanta Braves . Glaus lettered in baseball while attending UCLA...
(207 AB, 18 HR) hit more home runs in the majors in 2004 among players with 215 or fewer at bats.
Hernández signed on with the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
for the to begin his second tenure with the team. He played in 84 games and hit .231 with six home runs and 31 runs batted.
Before the season, Hernández signed a minor league contract with the Pirates that included an invitation to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
, and an opportunity to compete for a spot on the team. After playing only 67 games for Pittsburgh, the Phillies purchased his contract from the Pirates on August 22, 2006. He became a free agent after the season.
Hernández returned to the Pirates organization on January 3, . Unconditionally released on March 30, he signed with the Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
. In 99 games, he hit .242 with 13 home runs and 56 RBI.
Hernández set a Puerto Rican Winter League
Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League
The Puerto Rico Baseball League formerly known as Liga de Béisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico or LBPPR, is the main professional baseball league in Puerto Rico. In 2007, the LBPPR recessed for the first time since its creation...
record with 20 home runs for Mayagüez
Indios de Mayagüez
The Indios de Mayagüez are a baseball team in the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League . Normally based in Mayagüez, the Indios have won 16 national championships and two Caribbean World Series...
during the - season.